Thursday, June 18, 2009

It was a sweet mini reunion between me and 4 of my former chess colleagues and students; Hanif Arkurni (now IIUM Matric Nilai lecturer), Fattah Radzali (lawyer), Rezal Che Man (teacher and also among the MSSKL trainer) and Ahmad Termizi (lawyer) and it was also a bitter gift when they trashed my current Department's players. Only I survived against my former best chess student, who happened to be quite rusty as he had retired fully from chess tournaments. He came all way long from Nilai on my invitation just to play chess and to meet old friends.

Before we draw for the colour of the 1st board, I teased Hanif,"Do you want to play Morra gambit or the Sicilian dragon?". He only smiled in his replied. As the draw result showed, Hanif choosed my let hand where I held the black pawn, which means, it will be a Sicilian dragon.

This reminds me the new DVD of Roman Dzindzichasvili which the GM claimed that its analysis had been checked by the Rybka which completely would slay the dragon, at least until someone who is also a GM refute it. I do not (yet) possess this DVD, but my friend and foe (from DBKL- our most bitter rival in the coming MAKSWIP) Mohd Zambri Mohd Shariff had seen the video and studied it.

Anyone wishes to buy this can also pre order from me with RM 120.00. However, I need the advance payment and the delivery will take place in 1-2 months (normally faster than that). I sell only the original DVD.

The basic setting of the fearsome dreaded dragon of the Sicilian defence had been reached.After a brief thought, I decided to go on with the normal main line

6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6

Here I stopped for a while to consider between 9.Bc4 or 9.0-0-0. I remember that Hanif's most frequent respond to 9.0-0-0 would be 9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Kb1 Qc7 etc. In this line I had something in my sleeve (related to the GM Roman's teaching) which I shall not reveal here and my opponent had never seen it before. However, I was afraid that Hanif would instead opted for 9.0-0-0 d5!? where I did not have any special thing to present. The line 10.Kb1 e5 (as in our last debate in our training a few years ago) would be nothing special for white. Theerefore:-

9.Bc4 (D)

9...Bd7 10.0-0-0 Ne5!?

A bit of surprise. I thought Hanif would go for 10...Qa5, 11...Ne512....Rfc8 or 11...Rfc8 than only 12..Ne5. With 10...Ne5 it is possible that Hanif was aiming for the Soltis block structure, his old favourite set up which would arrise via 10...Ne5 11.Bb3 Rc8 12.h4 h5 (this is the Soltis blocking structure - see diagram)

11. Bb3 Qa5?!Now, Hanif is mixing up with the Soltis block and Ward's set up. After thinking briefly, I decided to try to channel my opponent into a slight uncharted territory.

12.Bh6! (D)

Surprisingly, this turns out to be the vital turning point of this game when Hanif undecidedly played...

12...Rfc8

13.Nde2This is to prevent any unpleasant exchange sacrifice on c3, at least not now.

13...Bh8?!This is the beginning of hesitation play by Hanif. Understandable he wanted to keep the eye of dragon Bishop. After the game I suggested to him that proceeding with the Queenside play may be better. For example 13...Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 when white's is slightly tied up If white exchange the dark square Bishop 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 than 16.h4 h5 is a better Soltis block version for black as normally, white would need the dark square bishop on g5 to exchange the f6 knight in order to breach the black's King fortress beginning with g4

14. Kb1 Qa6?After the game, Hanif himself criticised this because it loses many counterplay possibility along the 5th rank. The text move rightly avoided any tric based on Nc3-d5 but that should be simply answered with the retreat Qd8

15. h4 Be6 16.Nf4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Slowly, black is uncovering the eye of dragon on h8, but I was fully aware of this.

17..Rxc4 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.e5!This minor sacrifice is the only mean to stop the uncovering of the eye of dragon and contain some venom. For example 19...dxe5 20.Qd8+ Rxd8?? 21.Rxd8+ Kf7 22 Rf8 mate

19...Rxc3Hanif was running out of time (about his last 7 minutes), while I was having the luxurious 31 minutes!

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Gambiteer 1Local bookstore normal price; RM 94.90

My Price: RM80.00 (you'll save RM 14.90)

Suggesting a repertoire for white, based on gambits lines to beat black's posibble defences systems. The repertoire is based on 1.e4... Ideal for those who wish to seek something idea which is quite sound albeit unusual, merely give the opponents as maximum surprise as possible.

Title: Najdorf Life and Games\Local bookstore's price: RM 109.90

My offered net price : RM 90.00 (you'll save almost RM 20.00)

A collection of Najdorf's games and the stories behind them. Ideal for Najdorf's fans.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Finally, after few months of works (during midnight or very early hour before the fajr) I managed to complete all the 700+ plus games of Sukan Wanita 2007 (standard - open) which was won by NWM Alia Anin Azwa.